    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book III)]
    [October 9, 2004]
    [Pages 2436-2443]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks in Chanhassen, Minnesota
    October 9, 2004

        The President. Thank you all. Thank you all for being here. What a
    beautiful day.
        Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
        The President. Thank you all. It turns out I am the first sitting
    President ever to visit Chanhassen, Minnesota. All the other ones missed
    out on a beautiful part of America. Thank you for coming out today. I'm
    here asking for the vote, and I'm here to ask for your help in getting
    that vote out. There is no doubt in my mind, with your help, we will
    carry Minnesota and win a great victory in November.
        We're getting close to voting time here in America, and today a
    great thing happened in Afghanistan. The people of that country, who
    just 3 years ago were suffering under the brutal regime of the Taliban,
    went to the polls to vote for their President. A 19-year-old
    woman, an Afghan refugee who fled her
    homeland during its civil war, became the very first voter. It's
    amazing, isn't it? She said, ``I cannot explain my feelings, just how
    happy I am. I never would have thought I'd be able to vote in this
    election.'' Freedom is beautiful. Freedom is on the march.

    [[Page 2437]]

        So today is an appropriate day for Americans to remember and thank
    the men and women of America's Armed Forces who liberated Afghanistan.
    Because of their actions, America is safer, and the world is better off.
        Australia had an election as well. And I was honored to call my
    friend John Howard, the Prime Minister, and
    congratulate him on a great victory. As you can see, I'm keeping good
    company today.
        So here's the way I like to tell the day I asked Laura to marry me. I said, ``Would you marry me?'' She said,
    ``Fine, just so long as I never have to give a political speech.''
    [Laughter] I said, ``Okay, you've got a deal.'' [Laughter] Fortunately,
    she didn't hold me to the promise. Americans, when they see Laura speak,
    see a compassionate, decent, warm, great First Lady.
        I'm proud of my runningmate, Dick Cheney. I
    thought he did a great job in his debate. I admit it, he didn't have the
    waviest hair on the platform there. Of course, I didn't pick him for his
    hair. [Laughter] I picked him because of his experience and sound
    judgment. I picked him because he can get the job done for the American
    people.
        I'm proud of your Governor, Tim Pawlenty. He's a good Governor, and I'm proud to call him
    friend.
        Plus, I like working with Norm Coleman.
    He's a fine United States Senator. And I hope you put John Kline back in office, the United States Congressman from this
    district. They're not here. They're in Washington, still voting. I can't
    wait for them to get out of town. [Laughter]
        I want to thank the mayor of Chanhassen, Tom Furlong, for being here. I'm proud you're here, Mr. Mayor. One of
    the things I'm proud of is there's all kinds of Democrats around the
    country supporting me. People like Zell Miller
    are supporting my candidacy. But so is my friend, the mayor of St. Paul,
    Randy Kelly.
        I want to thank all the statehouse people who are here. I want to
    thank the Shooting Star Band. I want to thank all the grassroots
    activists for what you're going to do. I can see by the signs and the
    size of this crowd you have done a lot. But it's what you're going to do
    I want to thank you for, and that is turn out the vote, get people to
    the polls.
        Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
        The President. We had an interesting evening last night. It was a
    great debate. I thought the citizens did a fantastic job of asking good
    questions, and that debate highlighted some fundamental differences on
    issues from jobs and taxes and health care and national security. Much
    as he tried to obscure it, on issue after
    issue my opponent showed why he earned the ranking of the most liberal
    Member of the United States Senate. And several of his statements just
    don't pass the credibility test.
        With a straight face, he said, ``I've only
    had one position on Iraq.'' [Laughter] I could barely contain myself.
    [Laughter] He must have--he must think we're on a different planet.
    [Laughter] In the spring of '03, as I ordered the invasion of Iraq,
    Senator Kerry said, ``It was the right decision.'' Now he says, ``It was
    the wrong war.'' He tries to tell us he's had only one position. Who's
    he trying to kid? He can run, but he cannot hide.
        Again, with a straight face, he tried to
    tell Americans that when it came to his health care plan, quote, ``the
    Government has nothing to do with it.'' [Laughter] Eight out of ten
    people who get health insurance under Senator Kerry's plan will be
    placed on a Government program. He can run, but he cannot hide.
        And then Senator Kerry was asked to look
    in the camera and promise he would not raise taxes on anyone who earns
    less than 200,000 a year.
        Audience members. [Inaudible]
        The President. I know. The problem is, to keep that promise
    he would have to break almost all of his other
    ones. [Laughter] You see, his plan to raise taxes on

    [[Page 2438]]

    the top two income brackets will raise $600 billion a year by our
    estimate and $800 a year by--$800 million by his estimate--will raise
    $600 billion by our estimate and $800 billion by his estimate. I think I
    finally got it right. [Laughter] But his own health care plan costs $1.2
    trillion. So you begin to see the problem. He can't have it both ways.
    To pay for the big spending programs he's outlined during his campaign,
    he's going to have to raise your taxes. And he can run, but he cannot
    hide.
        You know, after listening to his litany of complaints and his dour
    pessimism, it was all I could do not to make a bad face. [Laughter] I
    have a very different philosophy from Senator Kerry. I'm a compassionate conservative. As your President, I've
    worked to make America more hopeful and more secure. I've led this
    country with principle and resolve, and that's how I will lead with--the
    next 4 years.
        I'm looking forward to coming back to Minnesota before election day.
    I'm looking forward to this stretch run. I like to be with people. I
    like to tell people what I believe and where I stand. I believe every
    child can learn and every school must teach. I went to Washington to
    challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations. I felt strongly we
    needed to end this business about just shuffling the kids through, grade
    after grade, year after year, without teaching the basics. We've raised
    the standards. We measure early to solve problems before it's too late.
    We trust the local people to make the right choices for their schools.
    We're closing an achievement gap in America, and we're not going to go
    back.
        I believe our seniors must have a good health care system. I went to
    Washington to fix problems, not pass them on to future Presidents. I saw
    a problem in Medicare. Let me give you an example. Medicare would pay
    thousands of dollars for a heart surgery but not one dime for the
    prescription drugs to prevent the heart surgery from being needed in the
    first place. That wasn't right for our seniors. It wasn't right for the
    taxpayers. We came together and strengthened Medicare for our seniors.
    Seniors will get prescription drug coverage in 2006, and we're not going
    to go back.
        I believe in the energy and innovation and spirit of our workers and
    small-business owners and farmers and ranchers. That's why we unleashed
    that energy with the largest tax relief in a generation. When you're out
    there gathering up the vote, remind people what we've been through, what
    this economy has been through. Six months prior to our arrival in
    Washington, DC, the stock market was heading down. Then we had a
    recession. Then we had some corporate scandals, which affected our
    economy. We passed laws that say to people, ``We will not tolerate
    dishonesty in the boardrooms of this country.'' And then the enemy hit
    us. And that attack cost us a million jobs in the 3 months after
    September the 11th. We've been through a lot. You think about that.
        But our economy has been growing at rates as fast as any in nearly
    20 years. The national unemployment rate is 5.4 percent, which is lower
    than the average of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. The unemployment rate
    in the great State of Minnesota is 4.8 percent. Farm income is high. The
    homeownership rate is at an alltime high in America. America is on the
    move, and we're not going to go back.
        I believe the most solemn duty of the American President is to
    protect the American people. If America shows uncertainty and weakness
    in this decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. This will not
    happen on my watch.
        Listen, I recognize that a hopeful society must have a growing
    economy, and I have a strategy to keep this economy moving forward. In
    order to keep jobs here in America, in order to make sure people can
    find work, America must be the best place in the world to do business.
    That means less regulations on our businesses. That means we've got to
    do something about

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    these junk lawsuits that are hurting small-business owners in America.
        If we want to keep jobs here in America, this country--Congress has
    got to pass my energy plan. It's a plan that encourages conservation.
    It's a plan that encourages the use of renewables like ethanol and
    biodiesel. It's a plan that uses technologies to make sure we can
    explore for natural gas in environmentally friendly ways. It's a plan
    that promotes clean coal technology. It is a plan that recognizes to
    keep jobs here, America must be less dependent on foreign sources of
    energy.
        In order to keep jobs here in America, we've got to open up markets
    for our products. Listen, we've opened up America's markets for products
    from overseas, and that's good for you. If you have more choices, you're
    likely to get the product you want at higher quality and better price.
    That's how the market works. So rather than shutting down our market and
    hurting consumers, my strategy is to tell places like China, ``You treat
    us the way we treat you.'' And I'm confident in doing so, because I know
    we can compete with anybody, anytime, anywhere, so long as the rules are
    fair.
        To create jobs in America, we must be wise about how we spend your
    money and keep your taxes low. You heard that rhetoric, ``Oh, all
    he's going to do is tax the rich.'' In order
    to make sure he can--in order to make sure he fulfills a little bit of
    his promises, he said he's going to tax the rich. We've heard that kind
    of language before. Yes, the rich hire lawyers and accountants for a
    reason--to stick you with the bill. We're not going to let the Senator
    tax you; we're going to whip him in November.
        We've got to do something about this health care system. Costs are
    rising rapidly. We need to make sure health care is available and
    affordable. Most of the people who are uninsured work for small
    businesses. I think we ought to allow small businesses to pool risk
    across jurisdictional boundaries so they can buy insurance at the same
    price and the same discounts big businesses get to buy insurance. We
    need to expand tax-free health savings accounts to help our small
    businesses and our workers.
        We need to make sure that each poor community in--county in America
    has got a community health center for our poor and the indigent. We've
    got to make sure our children's--low-income children's health program is
    fully subscribed. We've got to use technology to wring excess costs out
    of the system. This is a practical, commonsense way to make sure health
    care is available and affordable.
        And another thing we need to do is we've got to get rid of those
    frivolous lawsuits that are running good docs out of business and
    running up the cost of health care. You cannot be pro-doctor, pro-
    patient, pro-hospital, and pro-trial-lawyer at the same time. You have
    to choose. My opponent made his choice, and he
    put a trial lawyer on the ticket.
        Audience members. Boo-o-o!
        The President. I have made my choice. I'm standing with the patients
    and the docs. I'm for medical liability reform--now. In all we do to
    reform health care, my administration will make sure the decisionmaking
    is between the doctor and the patient, not by officials in the Nation's
    Capital.
        You know, in changing times--and we do have changing times--it helps
    bring stability into your life if you own something. More and more
    people are owning their own home. We've got plans over the next 4 years
    to continue to expand homeownership all around America. I love the idea
    of somebody opening up the front door where they live and saying,
    ``Welcome to my home. Come to my house. Welcome to my piece of
    property.''
        In changing times, we've got to do something about our retirement
    system. You might remember the campaign in 2000, when they said, ``If
    George W. wins, you're not going to get your Social Security

    [[Page 2440]]

    check.'' Remember those ads? Yes. Our seniors got their checks. You're
    hearing the same rhetoric this time. Baby boomers like me, we'll get the
    checks.
        We need to worry about our children and our grandchildren when it
    comes to Social Security. We need to do something to make that system
    available for our children and grandchildren. That's why I think younger
    workers ought to be allowed to take some of their own money and set up a
    personal savings account, a personal savings account that will earn
    better interest, a personal savings account they can call their own,
    that Government cannot take away.
        We have a difference in philosophy in this campaign. My
    opponent's programs expand the Federal reach--
    the reach of the Federal Government. My programs expand freedom and
    opportunity for every American. He trusts Government. I trust the
    people.
        In a world of change, there's some things that will not change, the
    values we try to live by, courage and compassion, reverence and
    integrity. In times of change, we'll support the institutions that give
    our lives direction and purpose, our families, our schools, our
    religious congregations. We stand for a culture of life in which every
    person matters and every being counts. We stand for marriage and family,
    which are the foundations of our society. We stand for the appointment
    of Federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and
    strict interpretation of the law.
        This election will also determine how America responds to the
    continuing danger of terrorism. Since the terrible morning of September
    the 11th, 2001, we've fought the terrorists across the Earth, not for
    pride, not for power, but because the lives of our citizens are at
    stake. Our strategy is clear. We're defending the homeland. We're
    strengthening the intelligence services. We're transforming the All-
    Volunteer Army, which will stay an all-volunteer army. We will stay on
    the offensive. We will strike the terrorists abroad so we do not have to
    face them here at home. We will continue to work to spread liberty in
    the greater Middle East and around the world. And we'll prevail.
        Our strategy is succeeding. Think about the world the way it was
    prior to September the 11th. Afghanistan was the home base of Al Qaida.
    Pakistan was a transit point for terrorist groups. Saudi Arabia was
    fertile ground for terrorist fundraising. Libya was secretly pursuing
    weapons. Iraq was a gathering threat, and Al Qaida was largely
    unchallenged as it planned attacks.
        Because we led, Afghanistan is an ally in the war on terror, and
    they're having Presidential elections today; Pakistan is capturing
    terrorists; Saudi Arabia is making raids and arrests; Libya is
    dismantling its weapons program; the army of a free Iraq is fighting for
    freedom; and three-quarters of Al Qaida--three-quarters of key members
    and associates of Al Qaida have been brought to justice. America has
    led. Many have followed. And the world is safer.
        This progress involved careful diplomacy, clear moral purpose, and
    some tough decisions. And the toughest came in Iraq. We knew Saddam
    Hussein's record of aggression and support
    for terror. We knew he had harbored terrorists. We knew his long history
    of pursuing and using weapons of mass destruction. We knew that the
    biggest threat we face is if a terrorist group were able to attain
    weapons of mass destruction. And we knew that after September the 11th,
    it's vital that we think differently about our security. We must take
    threats seriously before they fully materialize.
        Saddam Hussein was a threat. I went to the Congress. They looked at
    the same intelligence I looked at. They remembered the same history of
    Saddam Hussein, and they concluded Saddam was
    a threat and authorized the use of force. My opponent was one of those who authorized the use of force.
        Before the Commander in Chief commits troops into harm's way, we
    must try

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    every option--every option--to solve a problem. I understand the
    consequences of sending people into combat. I know exactly what takes
    place. And so I went to the United Nations, hoping to solve this problem
    diplomatically. You know, they looked at the intelligence. They debated
    the issue, and they voted 15 to nothing, in the U.N. Security Council
    and said to Saddam Hussein, ``Disclose,
    disarm, or face serious consequences.'' That's what they told him. I
    believe when international bodies speak, it must mean what it says. In
    order to make the peace, when you say something, you'd better mean it.
        As he had for over a decade, Saddam Hussein wasn't about to listen to the demands of the free
    world. As a matter of fact, the report that came out the other day
    showed he didn't have the weapons we thought he had but, nevertheless,
    was gaming the system. He was using the Oil for Food Programme to weaken
    the sanctions. And you know why? Because he wanted to start his weapons
    programs up again. Saddam was a danger. He was a threat. We gave him a
    final chance. He ignored the demands of the free world. He deceived the
    inspectors. So I have a choice to make at this point: Do I trust the
    word of a madman and forget the lessons of September the 11th, or take
    action to defend our country? Given that choice, I will defend America
    every time.
        Because we acted to defend ourselves, 50 million people now live in
    freedom. The world is seeing what's happening in Afghanistan. Despite
    ongoing acts of violence, Iraq is moving toward free elections in
    January. Iraq has a strong Prime Minister and a
    National Council. We're standing with the people in those countries
    because when America gives its word, America must keep its word.
        And in standing with those people, we're making our country safer.
    Free societies in the Middle East will be hopeful societies which no
    longer feed resentments and breed violence for export. Free societies in
    the Middle East will fight terrorists instead of harboring them, and
    that makes us safer.
        Our missions in Afghanistan and Iraq are clear. We will help the
    Afghan people and the Iraqi people by training them, so they can fight
    for their own freedom, so they can fight for the destiny of their
    people. We'll help them get on the path to stability and democracy as
    quickly as possible, and then our troops will come home with the honor
    they have earned.
        We've got a great United States military. I want to thank the
    veterans who are here for having set such a great example for those who
    wear the uniform. I want to thank the military families who are with us
    here today. I made a commitment to our families and to our troops: They
    will have the resources they need to complete their missions. That's why
    I went to the Congress in September of 2003 and asked for $87 billion of
    vital funding to support our troops in both Afghanistan and Iraq. We got
    great support there in the Congress, strong bipartisan support. As a
    matter of fact, only 12 United States Senators voted against the funding
    for our troops, 2 of whom are my opponent and
    his runningmate.
        Audience members. Boo-o-o!
        The President. When you're out gathering up the vote, remind people
    of this fact: Only four Members of the United States Senate voted to
    authorize force and then voted against funding the troops--only four,
    two of whom are my opponent and his
    runningmate.
        Audience members. Boo-o-o!
        The President. So they asked him why. And
    he said, ``Well''--in the most famous quote of the 2004 election, one
    that has befuddled millions of Americans, he said, ``I actually did vote
    for the $87 billion, before I voted against it.'' They kept pressing
    him, and he's given, I don't know, six or seven answers. But one of the
    most interesting ones of all was he finally through

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    up his hands and said, ``It's just a complicated matter.'' [Laughter]
    There's nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat.
        On national security, my opponent has a
    record of voting against the weapons systems that helped our country win
    the cold war. Right after the bombing in 1993, he voted to cut America's
    intelligence budget by $7.5 billion. And now he says he wants a ``global
    test''----
        Audience members. Boo-o-o!
        The President. ----before we take action to defend our security.
    Think about that. The problem is that the Senator can never pass his own test. [Laughter] In 1990, the
    United Nations Security Council passed a resolution supporting action to
    remove Saddam Hussein from Kuwait. The
    international community was united. Countries around the world joined
    that coalition. Yet in the United States Senate, after the Security
    Council resolution, Senator John Kerry voted no for the use of force.
    See, I have a different view. We'll do everything we can to solve
    problems before we commit our troops, and I'll continue to work with our
    friends and allies. But I will never allow other nations to veto
    America's national security decisions.
        I believe in the transformational power of liberty. I like to share
    with people some of my talks with Prime Minister Koizumi. He's the Prime Minister of Japan. I saw him in New
    York. I said, ``You know, I'm going around America telling people that
    you and I talk. Do you mind if I share some of our conversation?'' He
    said, ``No.'' I didn't tell him I was going to tell you that Elvis is
    his favorite singer--[laughter]--was his favorite singer--is his
    favorite singer on CD. [Laughter]
        The reason I bring him up is because
    it wasn't all that long ago that we were fighting Japan. My dad fought there. I'm sure your dads and granddads,
    probably somebody here was there himself. See, they were the enemy, the
    sworn enemy. After we won World War II, though, Harry Truman believed in
    the power of liberty to transform an enemy into an ally. That's what he
    believed. A lot of people in this country doubted that, and you can
    understand why. There was a lot of bitterness toward the Japanese. A lot
    of people resented the fact that they were the enemy. But Harry Truman
    and other Americans stayed with that concept.
        And today, because they believed in the power of liberty, Japan is a
    democracy, and I sit down at the table with Prime Minister
    Koizumi talking about the big issues of
    the day and talking about how to keep the peace we all want. Think about
    that. Someday, if we're resolved and steadfast and strong, Iraq will
    become a democracy. And someday, an American President will be sitting
    down with a duly elected leader of Iraq talking about the peace we all
    want. And our children and our grandchildren will grow up in a better
    world for it.
        I believe millions plead in silence for liberty in the Middle East.
    I believe women in the Middle East want to grow up in a free society. I
    know they want to raise their children, their sons and daughters, so
    they can realize their dreams. I believe if given a chance, people in
    that part of the world will embrace the most honorable form of
    Government ever devised by man. I believe all these things because
    freedom is not America's gift to the world; freedom is the Almighty
    God's gift to each man and woman in this world.
        For all Americans, these years in our history will always stand
    apart. There are quiet times in the life of a nation when little is
    expected of its leaders. This isn't one of those times. This is a time
    when we need firm resolve, clear vision, and a deep faith in the values
    that makes us a great nation.
        None of us will ever forget that week when one era ended and another
    began. I stood in the ruins of the Twin Towers on September the 14th,
    2001. It's a day I'll never forget. There were workers in hardhats
    yelling at me at the top of their

    [[Page 2443]]

    lungs, ``Whatever it takes.'' I remember seeing a man who had been in
    the rubble, looking for his buddy. He grabbed me by the arm, and he
    said, ``Do not let me down.'' Ever since that day, I wake up trying to
    do my best to protect this country. I will never relent in defending
    America, whatever it takes.
        Four years ago, as I traveled this great State asking for the vote,
    I made a pledge that if you gave me a chance to serve, I would uphold
    the dignity and the honor of the office to which I had been elected.
    With your hard work, I will do so for 4 more years.
        Thanks for coming. God bless. God bless America. Thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 3:10 p.m. at Center City Park. In his
    remarks, he referred to Prime Minister John Howard of Australia; Gov.
    Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota; Senator Zell Miller of Georgia, who made the
    keynote address at the 2004 Republican National Convention; Prime
    Minister Ayad Allawi of the Iraqi Interim Government; and Prime Minister
    Junichiro Koizumi of Japan. He also referred to the ``Comprehensive
    Report of the Special Advisor to the DCI on Iraq's WMD,'' issued
    September 30.